Projects

Invasive Plant Patrol:

On July 15, 2012, the York County Invasive Aquatic Species Program, led by Laurie Callahan, came to Wilson Lake to assist Gail Murano and Jeanne Achille with an inspection of two major areas. The five volunteers came from Mousam Lake and Square Pond and using kayaks with aquascopes, canoe, and snorkel gear, carefully documented the species of plants growing in the north cove (named Misty Cove” by Jeanne) and the canal from the boat ramp on Young’s Ridge Road. The guest inspectors were impressed with the clarity of Wilson Lake and spent 3 hours identifying the native plants encountered. The good news is that no invasive plants were found at this time!

This was the first of the interlake plant patrols planned for this summer. The program has been established to help lakes having difficulty getting volunteers to keep an eye on the waters and to catch invasives such as milfoil and hydrilla which have already established themselves in nearby lakes.

Current Projects:

The Hawk Road Association is now official and beginning projects on Hawk Road. AWWA’s YCC will be completing the installation of BMPs (Best Management Practices) this summer, to help control storm water runoff, and homeowners are also working hard to improve conditions on the road. Al Peterson is President of the Association.

The Association is now waiting for final approval for their “Misty Cove” and will be ready to begin their projects this summer.

The Eagle Road Association is now an official statutory road association. President is Dan Orino. They have worked to complete their plans and are currently awaiting estimates so they can choose a contractor to do the work.

Both Associations have worked hard to organize and and have been important factors in the application for a 319 Grant to help improve these roads. The Maine DEP awarded this grant, written by AWWA and YCSWCD in August of 2011 for work to be done in 2012.  WLA applauds the efforts of all the homeowners on these roads for their concerted efforts.

 

Phosphorus Footprint Pledge: As part of AWWA’s “Clean Lakes Campaign” WLA, is asking homeowners in our watershed area to sign a pledge to implement at least one strategy to reduce phosphorus in our lake. All lake associations in the Acton-Wakefield area are competing in a friendly effort to see which lake can have the greatest percentage of its residents sign and return the forms. Help Wilson Lake be Number One!  The link to download and print a pledge sheet is now up and running from this web site. From the home page, under Projects, click on the Phosporus Footprint Pledge, download the pledge, sign it and return it to AWWA: PO box 235, Union, NH 03387. Or you can get a pledge sheet by calling Jeanne -207-477-0310- or emailing to request a copy – jach28@gmail.com. Another option is to click on this Paragraph Title, and keep clicking until the Phosphorus Pledge explanantion and Pledge Sheet come up!

AWWA/YCC: This summer the YCC crews completed five Project Host sites on Wilson Lake. Many thanks to the concerned homeowners who are taking advantage of this service to control storm water erosion from entering the lake. Others have had free Technical Assistance Plans constructed by Dustin Johnson of AWWA and are doing the work themselves. Every effort helps keep Wilson Lake pristine! (Project Hosts provide the materials and the YCC provides the labor free of charge.)

Remember you can call Dustin Johnson at 603-473-2500 to obtain free technical advice, request a TA Plan and ask for an application to become a Project Host.

Maine DEP 319 Grant: Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance and York County Soil and Water Conservation District collaborated to apply for a 319 Clean Waters Grant which would help Road Associations and the Town of Acton to address erosion issues on Hawk Road, Eagle Road and Langley Shores Road (of Great East Lake). The competition for this grant if very stiff and we should hear by the end of August if the application is accepted. Thanks to Linda Schier of AWWA and Joe Anderson of YCSWCD for their work on this difficult grant.

On August 23rd we learned that the 319 Grant has been approved! Congratulations to everyone who worked on the Watershed Survey, organized and supported the Hawk and Eagle Road Associations and our good friends at AWWA and YCSWCD, Linda and Joe!

Clean Lakes Campaign: In January, 2011, AWWA initiated its Clean Lakes Campaign “Lake Protection – It’s Everyone’s Job”. This is a two year project designed to help lake associations strenthen their ability to to protect water quality. The morning’s meeting brought together members of 7 lake associations and included guest speakers as well as the opportunity for all to participate in “The Watershed Game”. This game is an excellent educational tool to help participants learn about the many ways we unknowingly harm our lakes and how we can prevent or correct mistakes. Each lake association received a complete “Tool Kit” containing a CD and printed materials to take home and use with their memberships. An ongoing Clean Lakes Action Group was established to continue the collaborative process among lake associations. Anyone from Wilson Lake is welcome to join this group by calling Linda Schier of AWWA at 603-473-2500.

Past Projects:

Watershed Survey: In 2009, volunteers from Wilson Lake, Maine DEP, YCSWCD, AWWA, NHDES and their friends conducted a complete survey of the Wilson Lake watershed. The final report may be viewed on this website. As a result, many homeowners have improved their homesites, road associations have been formed, the Town of Acton Road Commissioners have been informed of areas that need work, the State of Maine Department of Transportation cleaned out the sand trap on Route 109, and our members have become aware of the need to be ever vigilant of the ways we can protect our investment in Wilson Lake.

Peacock Road became a town road due to strong actions of Peacock Road Association. It is an accomplishment of which homeowners on Peacock Road can be proud. They formed a road association and took such good care of their road that the residents of Acton approved the acceptance of Peacock Road as a town road. Thanks to Peacock Road residents and former Wilson Lake Association Presidents Mitzy and Bucky Dube for their leadership roles.

AWWA/YCC: In 2005 members of the Great East Lake Improvement Association decided to take a pro-active approach to protecting their precious lake. They decided to include the other local lakes (Horn Pond, Wilson Lake, Lovell Lake, Ivanhoe Lake, Balch Lake, Belleau Lake, Pine River Pond and Province Lake) in their ambitious project. A Youth Conservation Corps was established and began working on sites around these lakes to reduce storm water erosion, thereby preventing excess phosphorus from entering the lake. AWWA has grown to be a leader in water quality education and has received local, state and national recognition for its accomplishments.